Coating machine



April 7, 1931 F. B. THOMPSON 1,799,769

- comma MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK B. THOMPSON, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T SPOOR-THOMP- SON MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS COATING MACHINE Application filed February 15, 1929. Serial N0. 340,078.

This invention relates in general to improvements in coating machines, especially of the type employed for coating motion picture film and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a simple coating machine structure by means of which motion picture film and the like may be rapidly coated with a thin protecting film on one surface thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of this type employing simple coating rollers which are driven by the movement of the film as it is drawn through the device.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a roller in a machine of this type over which the film passes provided with small air nozzles by means of which the coating liquid is removed from the sprocket holes.

A further object of this invention is the provision of scraper means in conjunction with the coating rolls by means of which a very thin layer of the coating material is applied to the surface of the film.

A further object of the invention is the provision of two coating rolls rotating in opposite directions, one being wider than the other so that the solution is not squeezed through the sprocket holes.

0 These and other objects, as will appear from the following disclosure, are successfull; secured by means of this invention.

' This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, and relative location of parts. as will be set forth in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 .isa side elevational view of the 40 device with a portion of the side wall broken away;

Fig. 2 is a left hand end elevational view of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail 5 view of the scraper member;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device with roller 18 removed; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; 50 and perspective Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the roller and air nozzles. Y

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a simple coating machine for applying a thin protecting coating to motion picture film and the like to protect the film surface against abrasion and hence reduction in the useful life of the film. The device is adapted to coat one side of the film and to remove any coating liquid from the sprocket perforations to keep them clean and in perfect form.

To better understand the invention reference is made to the drawings in which the device is shown comprising two side walls 1 secured to a supporting base 2. Standing on the base 2 are the spaced blocks 2 which sup port the pan 3 for holding the coating liquid. As shown in Fig. 4, the pan 3 has a rectangular central opening 3 and near one end a smaller opening 3 through which the pan may be filled with the coating compound.

A short stub shaft 4 is secured to one side wall and has secured on one end the sprocket wheel 27 and on the other end, exteriorly of the wall 1 a small spur gear 5. To one side of the stub shaft 4: is another stub shaft 25 on which is mounted for free rotation a con cave roller 26. Spur gear 5 meshes with the large gear 6 mounted on the shaft 14 which is journaled in the side walls and has secured thereto between the side walls the smooth roll 13. This roll 13 is of approximately the same width as the film to be treated. The handle 7 is secured to the gear wheel 6 for rotating it when desired. A small spur gear 8 meshes with the gear 6 and, in turn, drives another small spur gear 9 meshing with the gear 10. This gear 10 is secured to the shaft 11 journaled in the sidewalls which also has secured to it between the side walls another smooth roll 12. The smooth roll 12 is of the same width as the distance between the inner edges of the sprocket perforations. Pivotally supported at 17 on one side wall is a lever 16 which has journaled on it a smooth spool-hire roller 18. The lever shown in the full line osition of Fig. 1 is adapted to be held there By means of the latch 19. The spool-like roller 18 is journaled on a shaft 20 secured to the lever 16 which is provided with the central longitudinal passage 21 which in turn is connected by the radial passages 23 which connect with the small orifices 31" on the projections 30. The central part of the spool 18 is raised, as shown at 22, which part is of the same width as the space between the inner edges of the sprocket perforations. The upper surfaces of the projections 30 lie in the same plane with'the periphery of the raised portion 22. Journaled in the side walls near each end of the device are the small shafts 24 and 3G to which are secured the plates 31 which have a beveled edge lying adjacent the rolls 12 and 13. Pivotally supported at 34 on the plates 31 are the two levers or arms 32 which overlie the sides of the rolls 12 and 13 and are resiliently held thereagainst by means of the compression springs .33. Also mounted on the lever by means of the stub shaft 28 is a smooth roller 29 which lies above and centrally of the rolls 12 and 13. Supported on one wall by means of the brackets 40 are the adjusting screws 41 which contact with the rods 42. The rods 42 are secured to the ends of the shafts 24 and 30 near their center. The ends of the rods 42 opposite to those in contact with the adjusting screws are secured to the tension springs 43 which have their other ends fixed to the side walls. By means of these ad usting screws 41 the scraper plates 31 are adjusted with respect to the surfaces of the rolls 12 and 13 so that the thickness of the film of coating liquid on the surface of the rolls may be nicely adjusted. It is, of course, apparent that the scraper arms 32 hug the sides of the rolls for the purpose of removing substantially all of the coating compound therefrom.

In the operation of the device the film to be coated is first cleaned by drawing it through a solution of acetic acidnnd water and, in addition, if desired, glycerlne in combination and then permitted to dry for about one and one-half minutes. The film is then assed through the coating machine just described and then allowed to thoroughly dry. By carefully adjusting the position of the scraper plates 31 with respect to the rolls the thickness of coating applied to the film can be accurately gauged. The coating compound is applied to one side of the film only. To do this the film is fed through the machine down over the top of the concave roller 26 and under the sprocket wheel 27 so that the sprocket teeth engage the film perforations. The film then rests upon a portion of the upper surface of roll 13 and passes under the roller 29. The film then contacts for a short distance with the upper surface of roll 12 and then passes under and over the spool-like roller 18 and returns back in the direction substantially parallel to its direction of entry. The film is pulled through the device so that the rollers are driven by means of the sprocket wheel 27 and gears 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. As will be apparent from the drawings the rolls 12 and 13 rotated in opposite directions with roll 12 running faster than roll 13. As was pointed out. roll 13 is of substantially the same width as the film, while roll 12 is of the same width as the distance between the inner edges of the sprocket perforations. As the film moves through the device driving the rolls the coating compound in a layer of suitable thickness is carried up by roll 13 and transferred to the under surface of the film but confines it to the space between the sprocket perforations. Roll 12 running in the opposite direction to that of roll 13 and traveling faster, preferably twice as fast, places a smooth thin layer of the coating compound on the film and confines it to the space between the sprocket perforations. The film then passes over the spool-like roller 18 with the space between the sprocket perforations in contact with the raised portion 22. This spool is of such a diameter and the nozzles 31 are so placed that compressed air de-- livered through the passage 23 is blown out through the sprocket perforations so as to break any film of coating compound that may have formed thereover, and clear the edges of the sprocket perforations of any of the coating liquid.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that I have devised a rather simple device by means of which the objects of this invention may be carried out. It will be apparent that I have embodied certain principles of operation and construction in a physical form for purposes of illustration which form, however, may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from these principles. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for illustrative purposes but rather to the scope of the invention as it has been set forth in the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a coating machine for coating motion picture film, the combination comprising a container for the coating liquid, smooth coating rollers rotatably supported so as to extend into said container. a sprocket wheel and gears connecting said sprocket wheel and rollers, said sprocket wheel being adapted to drive said rollers in opposite directions through said gears when the film is passed thereover and drawn thereby.

2. In a coating machine for applying thin coatings to motion picture film, the combination comprising rotatably supported rolls, a container for the coating compound into which said rolls project, means adjacent said rolls for controlling the thickness of the film of coating compound picked up thereby, a

sprocket wheel rotata-bly supported, and gears interconnecting said rolls to drive them, in opposite directions, the sprocket wheel whereby they are all driven by the movement of the film over the sprocket wheel.

3. In a coating machine for applying thin coatings to motion picture film, the combination comprising rotatably supported rolls, a container for the coating compound into which said rolls projects, means adjacent said rolls for controlling the thickness of the film of coating compound picked up thereby, a sprocket wheel rotatably supported, and gears interconnecting said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby they are all driven by the movement of the film past the sprocket wheel, one of said rolls being of less width than the other and running in the opposite direction at greater peripherial speed.

4. In a coating machine for treating motion picture film, the combination comprising a container for the coating liquid, coating rolls rotatably supported adjacent the container, a rotatably supported sprocket wheel, gears for interconnecting said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby the rolls rotate in opposite directions, and a roller having air nozzles on the periphery thereof rotatably supported so that as the film passes thereover said nozzles are in alignment with the sprocket perforations, said rolls, sprocket wheel, and roller being driven by the movement of the film past the sprocket wheel.

5. In a coating machine for treating motion picture film, the combination comprising a container for the coating liquid, coating rolls rotatably supported adjacent the container, a rotatably supported sprocket wheel, gears for interconnecting-said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby the rolls rotate in opposite directions, a roller having air nozzles on the periphery thereof rotatably supported so that as the film passes thereover said nozzles are in alignment with the sprocket perforations, said rolls, sprocket wheel, and roller being driven by the movement of the film past the sprocket wheel, and means adjustably supported adjacent the rolls for controlling the thickness of the coating compound picked up thereby.

6. In a coating machine for applying a thin layer of liquid to one surface of a motion picture film, the combination comprising a liquid container, two rolls rotatably supported so as to project into the pan, one of said rolls being the same width as the film and the other being the same width as the distance between the sprocket perforations, a sprocket wheel rotatably supported adjacent said rolls, gears interconnecting said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby the rolls are driven in opposite directions with the narrower roll revolving at a higher speed than the wider roll, and means for holding the film in contact with said rolls.

said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby the rolls are driven in opposite directions with the narrower roll revolving at a relatively greater speed than the wider roll, means for holding the film in contact with said rolls, and means for adjusting the thickness of the coating compound picked up by said rolls and for removing any coating compound from the sides of said rolls.

8. In a coating machine for applying a thin layer of liquid to one surface of a mo tion picture film, the combination comprising a liquid container, two rolls rotatably supported so as to project into the pan, one of said rolls being the same width as the film and the other being the same width as the distance between the sprocket perforations, a sprocket wheel rotatably supported adjacent said rolls, gears interconnecting said rolls and sprocket wheel whereby the rolls are driven in opposite directions with the narrower roll revolving at a higher speed than the wider roll, means for holding the film in contact with said rolls, means for adjusting the thickness of the coating compound picked up by said rolls and for re-' 9. In a coating machine of the type described for coating motion picture film, the

combination comprising a container for the coating liquid, coating rolls rotatably supported adjacent said container, a feed sprocket rotatably supported adjacent said rolls, gears interconnecting said rolls and feed sprocket, a lever pivotally supported adjacent said rolls, rotatable means supported on said lever having air nozzles on the surface thereof and a smooth roller supported on said lever for holding the film in contact with said rolls, said rolls, sprocket wheel, and rotatable means on said lever being adapted to be driven by the movement of the film past the sprocket wheel, said lever being adapted to move the rotatable means and smooth roller out of operative position with respect to said rolls to permit easy threading of the device.

10. In a coating machine of the type described for coating motion picture film, the combination comprising a container for the coating liquid, coating rolls rotatably sup ported adjacent said container, a sprocket rotatably supported adjacent said rolls, gears interconnecting said rolls and teed sprocket,

-a lever pivotally supported adjacent said rolls, rotatable means supportcd on said lever having air nozzles on the surface thereof and a smooth roller supported on said lever for holding the film in contact with said rolls, said rolls, sprocket Wheel, and rotatable means being adapted to be driven by the movement of the film past the sprocket Wheel, said lever being adapted to move the rotatable means and smooth roller out of operative position with respect to said rolls to permit easv threading of the device, and means for loclzing said lever in operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 25th day of January, A. D.

FREDERICK B. THOMPSON. 

